ISLAMABAD - Faisal Karim Kundi, 40, the newly-elected Secretary Information Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is least worried about the increasing dropouts in his party, arguing that only genuine ideological workers can stick to the left-leaning political party in the long run.
In an exclusive interview with The Nation since getting the slot of Secretary Information PPP, Kundi, who hails from Dera Ismail Khan, the stronghold of PPP, said desertion in political parties is a common phenomena and not a setback. “Quitting PPP is like quitting democratic politics. Those who have deserted our party have either sided with dictators or have tried to derail democratic regimes. Our PPP has altogether a different understanding of politics,” Kundi said referring to some of its party leaders that recently joined Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI).
Rather, Faisal Kundi is happy over the exit of ‘short-sighted’ and ‘selfish’ party leaders, arguing; “we need team of genuine political people to boost the party ahead of next general elections.”
Kundi spoke on variety of national issues but focused more on the challenges faced by PPP, hinting his party fellows could say goodbye to PPP in near future but it does not mean that party workers will switch their loyalties. “I belong to a city where workers are more loyal to PPP than they are to Faisal Karim Kundi (me). In case I quit PPP, I will be alone to change loyalty. My voters will forget me the day I abandon party. Jiyalas stick to ideology and not to turn coats,” Kundi explained.
He informed about major structural changes in PPP from federal to ward level organisational set-up after Eid-ul-Fitr, saying it was the revival stage of PPP. “You will soon see that Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will personally reach to each nook and corner of the country for mobilising workers,” he informed.
To a question, the youngest secretary information PPP ever has nominated said that Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari still believed in policy of reconciliation, adding PPP will not become part to any move to derail PTI-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or PML-N-led federal government.
However, Kundi said PPP will play its effective role as opposition party in the National Assembly and will not compromise on any move that undermines the sanctity of constitution or rule of law. “Those who say that PPP is friendly opposition actually don’t understand the meaning of democracy. They expect us to lock horns with the government until the democratic regime is wrapped up. We are not here to fulfill ugly wishes of such forces,” Kundi said, adding the PPP has not showed an inch of flexibility when it came to decisions taken by government without considering supremacy of parliament. “We see PTI and PML-N as two sides of the same coin. One is ruling KP and the other federal government. There is no opposition party in country except PPP that fights on many fronts. We keep check on PML-N in centre and at the same time we protect the democratic set up from the clutches of those who don’t believe in parliamentary politics. We have to act in a responsible way. And PPP knows it,” Kundi added.
To a question, the secretary information PPP brushed aside the impression that his party was going through hard phase explaining that People’s Party was ruling Sindh and AJK besides occupying maximum opposition benches in the National Assembly and dominating Senate.
“To say that PPP has lost its grounds is like living in fools’ paradise. Those who think that PTI has filled the political vacuum are wrong side of the history. Imagine the fate of political parties in Pakistan if there is no PPP. To think of democracy in Pakistan is to think of PPP in country,” he maintained.
To a question over the issue of missing necklace that finally was found in custody of former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gillani, Faisal Kundi said, “We know who was behind the malicious campaign in ranks of the ruling PML-N. There are some cabinet ministers who incite PPP against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. But again, we will not become a threat to the democratic regime.”
To another query whether the performance of PPP as ruling party in Sindh was outstanding, the secretary information said that it was unfortunate that the violence-hit Karachi has become barometer of PPP’s performance in the entire Sindh. “Now when the Rangers have got total control over Karachi, lets see whether peace could return to the metropolis or not. There is no better way out than political solution. Karachi operation has shaped up more into crackdown against political workers than criminals,” he asserted.